Today, Monday 8th January is the first anniversary of the death of Ruth Perry, following the Ofsted report on her school Caversham Primary.
The National Education Union (NEU) has suggested members remember Ruth by wearing something green (Caversham Primary school colour).
Shreeve: Ofsted was a contributing factor
Commenting on this tragic event, Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said,
“Those working in education have much personal experience of Ofsted inspections and debilitating stress caused to Headteachers. Indeed, we are well aware of one-word Ofsted grades fuelling a hire and fire “football manager culture”.
“In Ruth’s case, on 8th December a coroner ruled that Ofsted was a contributing part of her suicide. We heard the inspector was a ‘bully with an agenda’.
“Fittingly, since then Ofsted inspections have been paused to ensure all inspectors undergo wellbeing training.
Questions remain
Mr Shreeve went on to say that this is not enough and the following questions remain:
- What about the mental health of head teachers?
- What about the mental health of all other education staff? A YouGov survey provided data for the annual ‘Teacher Wellbeing Index 2023’. It found 71 percent of the 3,004 surveyed considered inspections had a negative impact their mental health and wellbeing.
- Who inspects the inspectors?
- Will the one and two-word judgements be axed?
Shreeve: Business model focused on pure targets and data is inadequate
Mr Shreeve concluded,
“Schools are complex, multi-faceted organisations with many things out of their direct control.
“Thus, a business model focused on pure targets and data is inadequate.
“It was not always like this. Change is needed.”
Article edit
9.05am 8th Jan 2024 – Photos from IW schools added
